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A bit further on, I think - in that I have the 32 digits in Grid B, nicely symmetrical. I don't know what Grid B represents, though - so I don't know how to decode the 34 letters. Ignore my previous about first and last column- I'm certain there are no digits in the first or last columns.

But still no further on, regarding decoding.

Piano, you're way ahead of me. I've spent hours filling a spreadsheet with numbers and still haven't filled one cell! I think I know the 13 possible values of E, L, T but I'm not spending any more time on it today. Very tedious. I much prefer numericals with a clear logical path from the start and the minimum of trial and error.

I'm not asking for help, just having a moan. I don't think there's been one puzzle this year that has been on the easy side of average. Several have been harder, and this one looks like the equivalent of a Magpie E.

piano I am with you.
Why is there an unlucky absence? Could it be relevant?
Do you have word lengths of (2*11 + 3*4) or (2*10 + 2*5 + 4) or (2*9 + 2*6 + 4)? Until it is decoded it seems impossible to tell.

Dylan, at that point, aren't there only 2 possibilities for P ? 27A requires P>8 and 29D requires P

I think I cut off my own comment...

...and 29D requires P

...P

Oh, I think the forum won't accept 'less than' symbol.

...29D gives P less than 13, but values 9 & 12 are already allocated to L & T. Or have I gone wrong already ?

Bananabean - the only things that I can think might have an unlucky absence are lifts (ie elevators) or intercoms?

I have the same possibilities for the word lengths as you - but no idea as to what they should be.

I was mislead for a while (see my original post) with thinking it might have something to do with the Berlin Wall! But I've rejected that idea in favour of the 32 digits nicely grouped in 2's.

piano - surely the theme has to involve the phonetic alphabet?

Piano or Bananabean : I have L and T as 9 and 12. Or have I gone wrong already ?